Foggy is a soft toy dog on an adventurous quest to raise funds and awareness for The ME Association. His best friend Patch’s favourite human has M.E.
His blog aims to show the human perspective of M.E and to raise awareness of the invisible debilitating illness.

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Monday, 28 March 2016

Hi,I have a thing about stairs. I just don't like them. I have had too many accidents involving falling up...or down...a set of stairs for it to be funny! I have made it my life's ambition to live in a bungalow or at the very least a ground floor flat with the bare minimum of trip hazards! I have always been clumsy, throughout my childhood years, I always had bruises and scrapes from falling over and bumping into things. But, in the past 10 years, a couple of years before M.E hit up to now I have broken a few

bones and given myself concussion from the evil that is a staircase!

From an M.E. point of view, stairs are absolutely not good for my health. Disequilibrium/feeling a bit giddy/low blood pressure and limited spatial awareness has lead to so many stumbles halfway up a flight of stairs. My brain not knowing where the last step is has caused so many issues! Don't even get me started on the

Mount Everest

energy required to put one foot in front of the other to climb stairs. Why do you think people have physio post stroke or after a major injury to be able to climb stairs independently. Stairs are tricky.I have lost count (it's in the thousands) of how many times I have got halfway down a flight of stairs only to remember the thing I had forgotten to do upstairs. I know that happens to everybody. The act of forgetfulness isn't reserved purely for people with chronic illness. However, the sheer level of *ARGHHHH* that comes with the knowledge that A. you forgot something B. have to manoeuvre 360 degrees without falling over and C. that you need MORE energy to go back up or to think of a plan B(get someone else to do what you had planned on doing) is exhausting!I live with my parents. This being the case, most of my possessions are in my bedroom, which is upstairs. EVERY DAY, when preparing to leave the house, I have to go upstairs to get something. Whether that be a pair of shoes, sunglasses, handbag and a lot of the time a combination of things. Do you think I remember everything in one trip? NO. So, by the time I do eventually leave the house, I have wasted at least 20% of my energy going up and down blooming stairs!My energy has flat-lined a number of times midway up a flight of stairs. It's a bit scary when that happens but I find just resting for a minute gets me to the top. Sometimes a flight of stairs in a department store can be my own personal Mount Everest challenge! Muscle fatigue is also an issue linked to climbing stairs. Stair-climbing can turn my legs into slabs of concrete that are too heavy to lift. Not because I am unfit but because of the level of energy required to do something that everyone else takes for granted.Love,Sally xxDon't forget to donate to Foggy's fund via www.mefoggydog.org. Thank you.

Sunday, 20 March 2016

Foggy is currently in Spain for the Real Madrid vs Sevilla football match

tonight. Going to this match means that, so far in this campaign, he will have done sport on two different continents. Next week he is heading to Cape Town.....Africa will be the third continent to be Foggy'd!This blog post is going back to basics. Since ME Foggy Dog was created, I have written about the human side of M.E. Today's blog is literally going to tell you about M.E as a whole by using extracts from the M.E Association website (www.meassociation.org.uk). 'All types of people at all ages are affected. Severe and debilitating fatigue, painful muscles and joints, disordered sleep, gastric disturbances, poor memory and concentration are commonplace. In many cases, onset is linked to a viral infection. Other triggers may include an operation or an accident, although some people experience a slow, insidious onset'. 'In some the effects may be minimal but in a large number, lives are changed drastically: in the young, schooling and higher education can be severely disrupted; in the working population, employment becomes impossible for many. For all, social life and family life become restricted and in some cases severely strained. People may be housebound or confined to bed for months or years'.

'Most people with ME/CFS fall into one of four groups:

Those who manage to return to completely normal health, even though this may take a considerable period of time. The percentage falling into this category is fairly small.

The majority, who tend to follow a fluctuating pattern with both good and bad periods of health. Relapses or exacerbations are often precipitated by infections, operations, temperature extremes or stressful events.

A significant minority, who remain severely affected and may require a great deal of practical and social support.

A few, who show continued deterioration, which is unusual in ME/CFS. When this occurs, a detailed medical assessment is advisable to rule out other possible diagnoses'.

This week, I created an online poll on Twitter. I wanted to know how much Foggy Followers felt they had learned from following Foggy. I have been pleasantly surprised by the poll results received so far. There are a number of people, however, who still do not 'get it'. This is completely understandable. M.E. is an incredibly complex illness to understand. With so many symptom combinations to get your head around it is like trying to hold a blob of jelly still. Constantly moving and changing. I hope that over time more people understand the nature of M.E and Team Foggy's mission of raising awareness will have been achieved.Don't forget to sign up for Foggy's email newsletters! Weekly newsletters start today. Please sign up via mefoggydog.org.Love,Sally xxx

Sunday, 13 March 2016

Hi,I contacted Daytona Motorsport to see if Foggy would be allowed to come and play on their track in one of their Go-Karts. The lovely people at Daytona said yes! So, he is currently on his way (travelling first class surrounded by bubbles) to Tamworth, UK. Foggy is so happy that he is doing something thing from his bucket list! He is so excited I think his tail wagging could have helped him fly there! The track looks fab! I can't wait to see the photos! Click here for Daytona Motorsport's website.I have updated his current itinerary for you to take a look at. Don't forget, I can always squeeze in a few more destinations. Get in touch if you can help Foggy DO sport!Daytona Motorsport - March 14/15Real Madrid, Spain - March 18-22 CONTINENT ALERT! Europe (non-UK) Cape Town, South Africa - April - dates dependant on postal service. CONTINENT ALERT! Africa Melbourne/Adelaide, Australia - May - dates not yet confirmed. CONTINENT ALERT! AustralasiaOntario, Canada - June CONTINENT ALERT! - North AmericaAsia has already been Foggy'd so he should achieve his aim of 5 continents in 6 months! Just keep your fingers crossed that he doesn't ever go walkies on his own!Don't forget - Foggy is working hard to raise funds and awareness for the ME Association. Please donate and help fund desperately needed medical research. Please donate via www.mefoggydog.orgThank you.Love,Sally xx

Tuesday, 8 March 2016

Hello!I met a lot of lovely people during my travels in Asia. I also made a lot of new doggy friends. My 'sitter' Derek took me to a dog rescue centre in Kovalam, the organisation is called Street Dog Watch Association (They are on Facebook - Link).Derek explains who the dog in the photo is:

George

'I sponsor this dog, he is called George. He was a RTA victim and nearly had to be put down due to a pelvic injury and broken leg that was beyond repair. He survived the pelvic op' and although he cannot use his back leg, they decided not to amputate. A year later he now manages really well! He's adorable. Lovely temperament'.

Derek, me and my new doggy friends

The Street Dog Watch Association is run by an English couple called Mary and Steve. They have done marvels for the local strays there in Kovalam. Mary now runs a huge sterilisation programme that has considerably cut down the local stray population. She also homes any unwanted dogs there and they're all happy as you can see! She does get a lot re-homed to English people who fall in love with them on their travels!Mary, Steve and their dedicated staff are truly amazing people. It cannot be easy for them in the heat every single day.Foggy is working hard to raise funds and awareness for the ME Association. Please donate and help fund desperately needed medical research. Please donate via www.mefoggydog.org